Berger wins it for Pompey

For the second time in a week, the Liverpool fans got to see a brilliant, free-flowing display of football - the only problem was that it was Harry Redknapp's side who provided all the entertainment with Patrik Berger grabbing the only goal of a bitterly disappointing afternoon.

According to this afternoon's match programme, when Liverpool have an off-day, anyone can beat them. Fortunately for the Pompey faithful who have waited 15 years to see the Reds at Fratton Park in the league, today was that off-day for Gerard Houllier's team.

Liverpool were quite simply terrible in the first-half. Passes were miss-hit, possession was squandered, players were caught offside time and time again and the defending was shambolic. That may sound harsh but you really had to be here to believe that this was pretty much the same team that ripped Olimpija apart in midweek. Teddy Sheringham may be 36 but he was by far and away the best player on the pitch during the opening 45 minutes. His passing would have been a joy to watch if you supported anyone but Liverpool and it was no surprise to see him involved in every move - and there were many - that caused Liverpool problems. Sheringham wasn't alone though. Steve Stone, striker Yakubu and Patrik Berger - as is always the way with former players - all gave the Liverpool defence hell. If the Czech midfielder had performed anything like this on a regular basis in his final two years at Anfield, he might have done enough to earn himself a new contract. As it was he didn't but today the former Kop favourite took just three minutes to find the net. A terrible bit of marking in the box allowed Berger to slide the ball beyond Jerzy Dudek and give the home side an early lead.

It could have all been very different had the post not got in the way of Emile Heskey's sliding shot in the first minute of the game. The England striker did well to beat Shaka Hislop when the pair came face to face in the area with just seconds on the clock but, having been sent clear by a delightful Steve Finnan pass, the Liverpool No.8 saw his striker rebound off the woodwork.

Harry Kewell and Steven Gerrard attempted to rally their team-mates into a response after the goal but apart from a free-kick from the Australian which was easily dealt with by Hislop and a low Diouf drive, there was precious little for the travelling fans to cheer.

Portsmouth, by comparison, offered plenty in terms of passing football and attacking play even if they very rarely troubled the Liverpool goalkeeper.

The half-time whistle couldn't come soon enough for the Liverpool players and fans alike and whatever Gerard Houllier said at half-time, it had an immediate effect. Liverpool, despite not making any substitutions during the interval, emerged a different side.

After creating panic in the area with a dangerous cross from the Liverpool right, the ball fell nicely to John Arne Riise but from 10 yards out, the Norwegian somehow managed to clear the bar with a blistering drive.

Hislop was called into action after 56 minutes though when an Emile Heskey shot stung his hands from outside the penalty area. A equaliser still didn't look like coming though and on the hour, Gerard Houllier threw on Anthony Le Tallec for Vladimir Smicer to liven up the midfield.

With 63 minutes gone, Igor Biscan rose superbly to head against the post - his own. When Sebastien Schemmel floated a free-kick into the area, it looked as if Biscan was going to head the ball behind for a corner but somehow he got his angles wrong and only a scramble in the area cleared the danger when the ball rebounded off the post.

Florent Sinama-Pongolle was thrown on for his Premiership debut after 68 minutes in place of the recently booked El-Hadji Diouf and while he looked lively - almost scoring with a great shot late in the game - Portsmouth were not about to sit back and defend their lead. In a frantic finale to the game, Amdy Faye had a goal disallowed, Steven Gerrard drew a good save from distance, Yakubu hit the underside of the bar and Pongolle shot wide with just Hislop to beat. The young Frenchman had an instant chance to make up for his miss with just two minutes remaining but again, this time under more pressure in a packed area, he put his effort wide. It pretty much summed up Liverpool's afternoon.